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Calgary teen who suffered near-fatal fentanyl overdose is ‘improving dramatically’

Anthony Hampton is recovering in a Calgary hospital after a near-fatal fentanyl overdose. Reg Hampton / Facebook

There is some good news to report on a near-fatal fentanyl overdose that hit close to home for Global BC.

Former anchor and reporter Reg Hampton says his son’s condition is improving dramatically.

Anthony, 18, has been in a Calgary hospital for weeks suffering from significant brain damage, after trying what he thought was OxyContin for the first time. However, police believe the pill contained the deadly narcotic fentanyl, after going through the text messages on the teen’s cellphone.

Last week, Anthony was only able to wiggle his toes on command and move his hands from side to side.

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But Reg now says Anthony has gotten so much better and has even asked to wear his Chelsea FC jersey.

Anthony still doesn’t remember what happened, but he is grateful to everyone for rooting for him.

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“Whatever positive energy everyone has been sending out to the cosmos, THANK YOU, because it has been working. Anthony is now fully aware of what is happening around him, and has been talking with all of us, albeit faintly,” says Reg in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

WATCH: Reg Hampton with son Anthony after he suffered a suspected fentanyl overdose

Fentanyl is said to be as much as 100 times as strong as morphine. Most people don’t realize they’re taking it: it’s showing up in heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, laced into marijuana and passed off as the prescription drug OxyContin. Two milligrams, an amount as small as two specks of salt, can be enough to kill someone.

-With files from Nick Logan

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